Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Communications biology – March 11, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Psychedelics can rapidly alter brain dynamics, creating heightened states of awareness. In a study with 15 participants, researchers simulated brain activity during DMT exposure, revealing a temporary surge in reactivity, especially in areas tied to perception and cognition. This insight enhances our understanding of how brief psychedelic experiences can leave lasting impressions.
Abstract
The transition towards the brain state induced by psychedelic drugs is frequently neglected in favor of a static description of their acute effects. We use a time-dependent whole-brain model to reproduce large-scale brain dynamics measured with fMRI from 15 volunteers under 20 mg intravenous N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a short-acting psychedelic. To capture its transient effects, we parametrize the proximity to a global bifurcation using a pharmacokinetic equation. Simulated perturbations reveal a transient of heightened reactivity concentrated in fronto-parietal regions and visual cortices, correlated with serotonin 5HT2a receptor density, the primary target of psychedelics. These advances suggest a mechanism to explain key features of the psychedelic state and also predicts that the temporal evolution of these features aligns with pharmacokinetics. Our results contribute to understanding how psychedelics introduce a transient where minimal perturbations can achieve a maximal effect, shedding light on how short psychedelic episodes may extend an overarching influence over time.